A World War I Evening in Carlow, 11 March

My weekend in Donegal was lovely in spite of Biblical rain. Thanks to Maureen Curran who hosted me, bought me lunch, and conducted a wonderful interview in Cafe Blend in Letterkenny. Her questions were the kind you always love answering because they really engage with the book. The following day I ran a writer’s workshop in a garden terrace in a beautiful house on the River Swilly. Authors, if you are looking for a great place to talk about your book and meet like-minded people, I cannot recommend North West Words highly enough and I hope I will get to come back sometime soon – I’ve left with really happy memories. See the last post for links to their site.

And no sooner am I back than I’m off again – this time to my hometown, Carlow, where I’m joining Paul Maguire of the Carlow Military Museum and other historians, giving a talk on the real life influences and events behind White Feathers. This is taking place in the Seven Oaks Hotel at 8pm and copies of the book will be on sale. Many thanks to Mona McGarry for organising this event. I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to Paul on the phone and I can tell he is a kindred spirit – and what he doesn’t know about the period isn’t worth writing on the back of a postage stamp.

Then on the Friday morning, I will be on Today with Sean O’Rourke on RTE Radio 1, discussing all things romantic novel. This is in preparation for the gala night in London next Monday where the winner of the Romantic Novel of the Year 2015 will be announced – I’m really looking forward to meeting Hazel Gaynor and the other Irish shortlistees. Happy to meet non-Irish shortlistees too, of course 🙂